Electric can opener



Jan. 17, 1950 HENsEL 2,494,616

ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 17, 1950 H s 2,494,616

ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 26, .1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3. F161 4 ll l ll Inventor FREO HENSEL.

Jan. 17, 1950 F. HENSEL ELECTRIC CAN OPENER 3 Sheets-Shee t 3 Filed Sept. 26, 1946 I71 73 Inventor FRED Hf'A/SEL.

FIG. 7

/ Attorneys Patented .Fan. 17, 1950 arcane ELECTRIC (DPENER Fred Hensell, i

Aft.

geles, Calif.

Application September 26,, 19%, Serial No. $99,385 is @laa, wt. 30%) i This invention relates to an electric can opener, a device including an electrical driven cutter adapted to be reciprocated by an electric motor and capable of operative connection thereto at .will, together with means for engaging and ad vancing the opener around the edge of a tin can necting th driving motor contained within the housing of the opener, with a cutting knife which is normally operatively disconnected from the motor, and having means operated by the reciprocation of the cutting knife, to advance the opener around the beaded edge of the can so as to effectively sever the top thereof from the body of the can within the top bead or" the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact portable electric can opener, in which all of the parts including the driving motor in operative connection with a cutting blade are housed within the device, which is relatively compact, strong, simple and effective in operation, and operable by one hand, leaving the other hand free to hold the can or for other purposes.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electric can opener constructed in accordance with the invention as applied to a can for opening the latter;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation, showing the cutter in position and means anglesto Figure 3;

vered top of the can after Figure 6 ma sectional view taken on the 6-6ofFigure 7;

nal elevation at right U Figure "l is a sectional elevation showing the manner of supporting the cutting blade? Figure 8 is a sectional view taken at to Figure 7:

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the means for advancing the can opener around the rim of a can, and

Figure 1c is a perspective view of a clutch lever for the device. Y

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference characters designat corresponding parts throughout the several views, the device is shown housed within a plastic or other housing lit to which an extension cord l i with the usual plug for plugging into a wall socket, is provided at the top through an opening or gromet l2. The housing it is suitably mounted on a relatively rec- I tangular open frame It the inturned bottom portions of which are spaced apart as shown. The top of the fre is provided with a central bearing it, for the rotor shaft it of an electric motor it bolted thereonas indicated at H and through atop bearing member l8 disposed above the motor housing which is thereby supported on the frame it. Fixed to the projecting lower end of the shaft it, is a fly wheel 19 and a small beveled pinion 20 set screws being shown for this purpose.

Mounted between the sides of the frame, preferably stationarily, below the pinion 20, is a horizontal shaft 25 which may be suitably retained in position, as by a bracket or strip 22 secured to the side of the frame to engage one end of the shaft on which a larger beveled pinion 23 isrotatably mounted and meshes with the pinion .or gear 2d. The beveled pinion or gear 23 is pro vided with a transverse opening 25 adjacent to its .5 v huborsleeve bearing on the shaft 2|. The gear or pinion 23 is thus loose on the shaft 2i and adia'centthereto and also loose on the shaft, is ,an eccentric collar or cam 25 having a trans-. verse opening 26 aligned with the opening 24 engaged by a collar or band 21 formed at one end of a connecting rod 28 on the opposite endof which is mounted a spherical enlargement or-ball' 29, shown threaded or otherwise mounted on a;

shank 30 of the connecting rod. I

Agrooved-clutch collar 3i is also loose on right angles the shaft -2i andihas atransverse hole or aperture j' ,l2:receiving .a c1utch pin 33- parallel to its axis)? 7 tor'extend intothe3hole '26 ofthecam 25 and adapted to be forced 'into the opening 24 'ofthe gear 123,-in order ,to ,op'e'ratively connect the plunger or connecting rod '28 with the gear for 1 reciprocation as the gear is driven from thefP; 7 i motor. The pin 33 is provided with a=beveled lateral projection or lug 34 riding through a slot in the collar 3| at the outside and the pin is normally held inwardly by a spring 35 in the form of a ring anchored to one side of the collar 3| as indicated at 33 and tending to force the pin of the clutch in position to connect the cam 23 to the gear'23 at the will of the operator.

Normally, the pin is held disengaged from the gear 23 at the opening 24 and for this purpose a shift lever or clutch lever 31 is pivoted in a bearing bracket 33 at one side of the frame l3, as indicated at 33, the free end of the lever having a tapered camming surface or thickened portion 40 which is designed to engage in the groove of the collar 3| to normally force the pin 33 outwardly by engagement with the projection 34 operating in the slot of the collar butadapted upon being swung upwardly and out of the groove of the collar, in front of the projection 34, to permit the spring 33 to force the pin inwardly to engage the opening 24 of the gear 23, as a form of clutch connection normally disconnected and adapted to be ,clutched for connecting the connecting rod 23 to the gear 23 in order to rotate the collar 25 in the form of a cam as described, to rotate eccentrically and impart reciprocation to the connecting rod. A handle for supporting the instrument implement in one hand, is indicated at 4|, and extends through an opening 42 in one side of the housing to be grasped as shown in Figure l of the drawings. The handle has a bifurcated inner end in the form of a fork with strap portions at the sides, as indicated at 43, for attachment to the sides of the frame i3 by screws or other suitable means and may be bolted or otherwise secured to the frame and housing as indicated at Q4. The clutch lever 31 is pivoted at its outer end to the lower end of a plunger 45 which operates through a passage in the handle 4| adjacent the housing and has a button or finger piece 46 at the top for pressing the same downwardly to disengage the camming end of the lever from the groove of the collar. However, the plunger is normally held upwardly by a coil spring 41 resiliently held in a counter-bore 43 in the handle and pressing against the bottom of the button 43 so that when the plunger is pressed downwardly by the hand gripping the handle 4|, the clutch is engaged by permitting the spring 35 to force the pin 33 into the opening 24 of the gear 23 and cause reciprocation of the connecting rod 23 I The ball terminal 23 of the connecting rod is held in a separable socket 4! at the upper end of a plunger 50, the socket including a spherical recess with a retaining plate 3| secured by screws or otherwise to the top of the socket to permit the shank to pass therethrough for slight angular motion. In addition to the ball and socket joint, connecting the plunger or ram 50 for reciprocation as the connecting rod is oscillated, the plunger or ram passes through a ball bearing 52 at the bottom of the frame and housing, the inner race of the ball bearing holding a ram guide or sleeve 33 and the race being held in position at its outer portion or ring, and clamped to the frame by means of bolts 34 in connection with a ring 33 similar to a washer, with an intermediate felt grease retainer or sealed ball bearing to take up lateral thrust on the ram or plunger II as the latter operates through a bottom opening in the frame l3.

The lower end of the plunger or ram 50 has a reduced portion SI formed with a diametrical 4 tion 33 of a cutting blade ll having an arcuate tapered cutting edge 33 at its lower end. The blade is held in position by a sleeve 3| engaged on the reduced portion 33 of the plunger or ram 50, which has a threaded socket engaged by a set screw 32 threaded through an aperture in the sleeve 3|. The cutting blade or knife 53 has a notch 33' engaged by the screw 32 and edge of the knife 33 opposite the cutting edge 33 and is provided with a reduced portion forming an inclined offset 33 in the manner of a camming surface adapted to ac uate a propelling or walking device in the form of a pusher to advance or move-the can opener around the beaded top edge or rim of the can C, the rim head of which is designated at R and the top of which is designated at T, being the part to be severed and removed for opening the can. As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the can may be supported upon a table or other support and held by the other hand while one hand grasps the handle 4|, to support and operate the can opener in position to connect and disconnect the cutter at will by merely pressing the button 43 and releasing pressure thererom.

Secured upon diametrically opposite sides of the guide sleeve 53, are plates or feet 34 fastened jointly by screws 65 with an angular yoke 66 having spaced sides or legs extending horizontally for connection thereto outwardly of the feet or plates 64 at the top due to the bifurcated character of the yoke or bracket. The bottom of the guide sleeve or housing 53 abuts a bracket plate 61 anchored as at 63 to one side of one plate 64 and slotted as at 69 to receive the blade 59 therethrough. The yoke 63 has its lower end curved inwardly as at 10 and is connected to form a blght portion having a sleeve H in which a needle 12 is held by a set screw I3 to point upwardly and inwardly for engaging beneath the bead or rim R of the can, so as to hold the device down while cutting. An adJustment screw 14 is provided through the yoke 65 constituting the needle holder, to engage the back of a plate 34 having an extension 15 and adjust the position of the needle to properly engage beneath the head of the can at its rim, on the screws 65 as a pivot. Incidentally, a spacing collar 2|, may be provided on the shaft 2i, between one side of the frame l3 and the clutch collar 3|, to hold the latter and the eccentric or cam 25 against the gear 23, to prevent sidewise motion of said parts or movement thereof away from the gear 23.

The lower ends of the shoes or plates 64 are provided with notches 16 to receive the head or rim of the can to guide and ride the device on the edge of the can. Inasmuch as the blade 59 is secured to the plunger or ram 50 and engages through the slot 63 of the guide plate 51, the plunger is held from turning in the guide 53. It should also be noted that one plate 64 extends angularly outwardly at its lower end and a U-shaped bracket 1'! is fastened at one side to the plate 64 with extension 15 at its out-turned foot portions, as indicated at 18, extending forwardly at right angles to the feet or plates 34 as more particularly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The outer or bight connecting portion thereof supports a leaf spring 13 attached by screws or the like as indicated at 36 and having its lower end curved inwardly in ogee or reversed fashion. A U-shaped pusher element 3| is provided at its sides with longitudinal or elongated slots 32 by which the same is pivotally mounted for longituslot I1 adapted to take the reduced shank porl5 dinal movement on a cross-pin 33 held between the sides of the bracket I1 and normally urged in a simple operation. Also,-the pusher plate 88 downwardly by resilient means or spring 8! disis simply a small steel plate about one-quarter posed between the bottom of the bracket and pin. inch square, which moves up and down, the slots The lower end of the pusher has a right angularly 82 allowing a one-quarter inch up and down inwardly and upwardly extending tongue or arm 5 movement of the plate and all eight edges of the in the form of a lug 85 extending through a slot plate may be used by changing its position 86 inthe adjacent plate 84 to engage the camming through the medium of the set screw 89. It surface or edge 63 of the knife blade 59 as the should be noted that the knife cuts very close to latter reciprocates up and down, to push the the inner corner of the lid or top of the can ad- -member 8| with an oscillating motion outwardly l0 jacent tothe bead or rim R.

and u wardly o its cotter pin 83 a ainst the ac- In the operation of the device, the can is set tion of the spring 8 which then exerts downward on the table or other horizontal supporting surpressure to move the pusher downwardly. The face and held with the left hand=whi1e the opener base of the member 8| has a transverse slot 81 is held in the right hand or vice versa and after in w h a r e ed square e ed mall steel the device is plugged into the wall socket at the plate 88 is held by a set screw 69 threaded through end of the cable I i to connect the motor I 6, the the forward portion thereof to move forwardly on device is applied to the can so that the arms of the'beaded rim or edge of the can with the memthe yoke or fork 66 will swing outwardly to en- .ber or bracket M as the knife moves downwardly gage the needle 12 under the outside of the I and is returned by theflsprings' I9 and 86 in a 2n beaded rim R and the pusher plate 88 wille'ndownward direction rearwardlyjjfto'engage the gage on top of the edge or the can or rim. The

bead at. the top edge of'the'oan at whichit' rides n Y clutch being normally disengaged, the motor will and digs into the same under .the'pressureofthe game the. large gearfli'while the pin 33 is respring 84 to advance, propel orpu'sh and "move'n. ftrac'ted from the opening 24 thereof due to the the device forwardly about one-eighth inch every 25 clutch lever 31 being held upwardly at its outer time the knife comes'down-so as to step the same arm or end by the spring 41 to raise the button along the can for additional cutting each time 46 and the camming end of the lever 31 downthe knife goes up. The tubular knife guide or wardly in the groove of the collar 3! to push sleeve 53 for the plunger 01' ram 50 is designed-to :outwardly on the pin 33 at its lug 34 against turn at-the bearing 52 to follow the curvature of the spring 35. Therefore, by pressingthe button the can and the yoke or fork 66 which is pivoted -46 downwardly'with a thumb or finger, the camat 65, may swing outwardly to permit the device ming end of the lever at to is raised from the to be applied so that thespinli will engage under groove of the collar 3| to permit the spring 35 the bead and is held in such engagement with the to force the pin 33 into the opening 2d and conyoke 66 inwardly, by a coil sprlng BIYfastened to -35 nect the latter to the eccentric or cam 25 for the bracket 1'! and one leg or armor theyoke'iti rotating the latter or causing vertical reciproas shown in Figure 5 of the drawinga-to cause the cation of the connecting rod 28 and plunger or pin to press under'the bead and hold thezpusherram 50 at the universal joint connection of the down against the can. Thegknife'lidnierelytums latter with the connecting rod and thereby rewith the. guide or sleeve 53 that is held from turn- /40 ciprocate the knife up and down. As the knife ing with respect thereto. Uponrelease of the is operated, the pusher is oscillatedor moved clutch lever or button 48, the clutch and drive forward and then rearwardly under the action parts while still rotating, are disengaged so that of the inclined camming surface 63 on the knife the ram or plunger always stops at the top blade 59 and the spring 84 respectivelyto move position soas'not to interfere at the knife, when 4 the device along the can as the knife blade cuts the device is removed from the can since the knife into the latter adjacent the rim of the can top. i i a, rais d position as shown in Figure 9, It This is continued around the can until the top may also be mentioned that the housing in maybe is entirely severed, an then the device is tilted made in two sections so as to be readily applied or as p e i ly l in d nd in the manner shown removed, with only the cutting mechanism ex- 50 inFigure 2 of the drawings, 50 h t h magnet posed at" the bottom below the housing together will remove the can lid or top T which has been with the revolving ram guide or sleeve 53 with its severed. This is facilitated due to the knife beattached needle holder, pusher and proper holes ing raised when the clutch iS released 50 as not for the handle, ram guide and cable containing to interfere with the removal of the device from the wires for conducting the current from the 55 the This is efieeiled y merely rel a ing socket of a house wire. The projecting portion 15 th pressure on the button 46. Y on one of the plates 64 has a permanent magnet W il in e foregoing there has been shown shown as a horseshoe magnet 9t secured thereto and described the Preferred embodiment of thi as indicated at, 92 to project from the upwardly invention it 15 to be understood that minor inclined bottom edge of the plate portion 15, so ch n s in h e l f r ti n. combinathat when the implement is tilted inthe manner n and rrangement of p r s m y b resorted shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, after severing fto w thofit depa o e sp it and scope upon the contents, the magnet will] attract and .of the invention as claimed.

WhatI claim as my invention is:

pick up the disc top T in the tilted position ofthe'; n a lean opener a knife blade mounted to device to remove the cutout top or lid which can e-advanced'and retracted along its longitudinal be easily removed from the magnet and disxis, l y controlled means connected to the top of the can, and the latter drops dowlijcarded. Also, the pivoted yoke as will swing on vitheidsnlfeblade. alternately to advance and from the can outwardly of the bead R, at the rim of the-can, as also shown in Figure 2 so. that the the screws 65 as a ivot against the resilient so: a' heaknifex ade along said axis and means tion of'the spring 90 to back the needle 12away -7Q a' i eeh jehd a ua ed in unison with said knife blade to] engage a can to be cut and advance said I blade along a path which lies in a plane devicecan be raised and removed from th ca 1 perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

In this way, the can top is effectively cutto'openf 2. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be the can and the severed top or lid easily removed advanced and retracted along its longitudinal angers axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately'to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and means adjacent and actuated by said knife blade to engage a can to be cut and advance said blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

3. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately toladvance and retract the knife blade along said axis and means adjacent and actuated upon the advance of the knife blade along its longitudinal axis to engage a can to be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

4. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and means adiacent and actuated by the knife blade upon its advance along its longitudinal axis to engage a can to be out and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

5. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife biade along said axis and a pusher mounted adjacent and actuated in unison with the knife blade to engage a can to be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

6. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and a pusher mounted adjacent and actuated by said knife blade to engage a can to be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

'7. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and a pusher mounted adjacent and actuated upon the advance of the knife blade along said axis to engage a can to be cut and advance the blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

8. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and a pusher actuated by the knife blade upon its advance along its longitudinal axis to engage accan to be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

9. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and means adjacent and actuated in unison with said knife blade to engage a. can to be cut and advance said blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and means supported adjacent one side of the blade to engage the can to be cut and hold the can opener against movement 8 away from the can during the advance of the blade along its longitudinal axis.

10. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and means adjacent and actuated by said knife blade to engage a can to be cut and advance said blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and means supported adjacent one side of the blade to engage the can to be cut and hold the can opener against movement away from the can during the advance of the blade along its longitudinal axis.

11. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and means adjacent and actuated upon the advance of the knife blade along its longitudinal axis to engage a can to be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis and means supported adjacent one side of the blade to engage the can to be cut and hold the can opener against movement away from the can during the advance of the blade along its longitudinal axis.

12. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and means adjacent and actuated by the knife blade upon its advance along its longitudinal axis to engage a can to be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in -a plane perependicular to said longitudinal axis and means supported adjacent one side of the blade to engage the can to be cut and hold the can opener against movement away from the can during the advance of the blade along its longitudinal axis.

13. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and a pusher mounted adjacent and actuated in unison with the knife blade to engage a, can to' be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis and means supported adjacent one side of the blade to engage the can to be cut and hold the can opener against movement away from the can during the advance of the blade along its longitudinal ax s.

14. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and a pusher mounted adjacent and actuated by said knife blade to engage a can to be cut and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis and means supported adjacent one side of the blade to engage the can to be out and hold the can opener against movement away from the can during the advance of the blade along its longitudinal axis.

15. In a can opener a knife blade mounted to be advanced and retracted along its longitudinal axis, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along said axis and a pusher mounted adjacent and actuated upon the advance of the knife blade along said axis to engage a can to be cut and advance the blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to said axis and means supported adjacent one side of the blade to engage the can to be cut and hold the can opener against movement away from the can during the advance of the blade along its longitudinal axis.

16. In a power driven can opener a guide, a knife blade mounted in said guide to be advanced and retracted through one end thereof along its longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced parallel feet extending longitudinally from the guide adjacent opposite edges of the knife blade, said feet having aligned can head receiving notches in their ends remote from the guide, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along its longitudinal axis between the feet and means carried by the guide and actuated in unison with the movements of the knife blade to engage the can head and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

17. In a power driven can opener a guide, a knife blade mounted in said guide to be advanced and retracted through one end thereof along-its longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced parallel feet extending longitudinally from the guide adjacent opposite edges of the knife blade, said feet having aligned can head receiving notches in their ends remote from the guide, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along its longitudinal axis between the feet and means carried by the guide and actuated in unison with the advance of the knife blade along its longitudinal axis to engage the can head and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the knife.

18. In a power driven can opener a guide, a knife blade mounted in said guide to be advanced and retracted through one end thereof along its longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced parallel feet extending longitudinally from the guide adjacent opposite edges of the knife blade, said feet having aligned can head receiving notches in their ends remote from the guide, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along its longitudinal axis between the feet and means carried by the guide and actuated by the knife blade to engage the can head and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the knife blade.

19. In a power driven can opener a guide, a knife blade mounted in said guide to be advanced and retracted through one end thereof along its longitudinal axis, a pair of spaced parallel feet extending longitudinally from the guide adjacent opposite edges of the knife blade, said feet having aligned can head receiving notches in their ends remote from the guide, manually controlled means connected to the knife blade alternately to advance and retract the knife blade along its longitudinal axis between the feet and means carried by the guide and actuated by the knife blade during its advance along its longitudinal axis to engage the can head and advance the knife blade along a path which lies in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the knife.

FRED HENSEL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Yoeman Jan. 8, 1935 Number 

